About Students for Success

Hello all and welcome to the Colab 400 Phoenix Center project: Phoenix Rising. This interior design endeavor, undertaken by Syracuse University Interior Design Seniors and their professors, Jen Hamilton and Chris McCray, will aim to transform the after school program, the Phoenix Center, housed in the former Hillside school, into an environment that reflects their student’s aspirations, goals and potential. Throughout the spring 2011 semester, our team, Students for Success, will formulate a cohesive design scheme generated from a studio project completed in the fall of 2010. As a team, we will carry the project beyond schematic design, and into build-out. Through a diligent exploration of the potential of good design, we can transform the Phoenix Center into a place that enables achievement in its aspirations and goals.

History and Mission of the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection

The Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, located in Syracuse, New York, is an after school program that encourages students to successfully complete their high school education and graduate. This program reaches out to students who exhibit two out of six risk factors:

poor attendance
over-age for grade level
failure in two or more core subjects
multiple school suspensions
low standardized test scores
living in poverty

The Hillside program approaches their goals by teaching 7th to 12th grade students career development and helping them with their homework, as well as providing mentoring and after school extra-curricular activities. Most importantly, Hillside works diligently to instill a sense of motivation, self-confidence and self-pride in their students. Their approach involves around the clock mentors who check-in with the students every morning at the students’ public high school, as well as transport them to and from their high school to the Phoenix Center, and eventually to their individual homes. Hillside is a successful and dedicated organization whose members are not just educational mentors but also act as life coaches and dependable adults these adolescents can turn to for support and stability.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Meeting Minutes 4.6.11

Hello everybody!

Last week our group met with Wayne, Lisa, and Dave from the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection to go over, and make some changes to, our design proposals for the Hillside entrance. Here are the minutes from our meeting!


Meeting with David about alterations to Hillside Design proposal

Chris presents modular partition wall
    ·       Dan explained the use of them, how they work together and the cost effectiveness of their design
    ·       Explained how we are looking into materiality of the design
Wayne saw the potential of the space dividers and confirmed the need for a design that provides personal, adaptable space.
    ·       Wayne and Dave appreciated that they can fold flat
    ·       Dave brought up some issues such as stability
     o      durability: if they got wet
                      if the kids threw them around
     o      Would like to see them a little bit bigger
     o      Is it cost effective: can you personalize them for each kid
     o      Discussed thinking about how they should connect: phoenix center connection is frail maybe Velcro or magnetic would be better.
     ·       Lisa supported the idea of using them for the division of personal space
     o      supported how it allows the student to create their own space: empowerment (Wayne supported that idea as well)
Wayne asked about other material options
Over all thought that the partitions had great potential
Future plans:
     ·       Going to experiment with other cardboard types and other materials


Sarah and I presented our college ideas, Wayne took the brochure to look over further
     ·       Wayne was interested in how Hillside alumni would be able to stay involved with the college room and influence younger students.


Markie presented her redesigned entrance idea.
     ·       Integrated the touch screen sign-in idea in the entrance.
     o      Wayne really liked that idea
                        It would solve some of their sign-in problems and organization
                             “the wow factor” 
                             Could not have the kids names displayed on the screen because of privacy policies
Dave brought up the idea of the stability of the structure
     ·       Maybe inverting them in an arch: making the letters relief instead of extrusions
     ·       Also brought up some height issues
     ·       Dave did not favor a drywall ceiling
     o      Instead was set on the drop tile ceiling
     o      Because of accessibility and cost issues
                        Could possibly sell him on the GWB but it would need evidence of necessity 

Discussed floor idea
     ·       Ripping out the tile and exposing/refinishing the concrete underneath
     o      Discussed how to finished the other ends of concrete with a threshold
     o      Discussed options for incorporating lines in the flooring: inlaying linoleum, staining the concrete
     o      Students will figure out cost elements and pros and cons of both options 
                       Maintenance
                           Durability
     o      Students will also define construction documents of the entrance and specify color selections

Dave will find building sections
Dave and Students for Success will meet again to go over progress in two weeks

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